Despite cutting political alliance with Malacañang, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando has refused to burn bridges with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo whom he served since her presidency in 2001.

Now running for president outside Arroyo’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Fernando defended Arroyo’s decision to impose martial law in Maguindanao, saying that she made the right decision in using military might in dismantling the Ampatuan private army in the province.

In a news conference Thursday, Fernando also dodged inquiries from the media as to what ills of the government he would attempt to correct if elected vice president in 2010.

Fernando said he does not harbor any ill feeling against Arroyo for failing to give him ample backing in his quest for the presidential nomination of Lakas-Kampi. The nomination went to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

“Walang nag-alok sa akin sa Lakas-Kampi na kumandidatong bise presidente,” Fernando told reporters during the Usaping Balita News Forum in Quezon City. “Ako ang iniwasan ng aking partido kaya ako naghanap ng iba.”

Fernando said this prompted him to accept an offer to be the running mate of Senator Richard Gordon in the 2010 elections. For the first time since he bolted Lakas-Kampi, the former MMDA chief admitted he remains an ally of Arroyo.

“Humingi naman siya ng pasensiya dahil hindi nga ako ang napili ng partido,” he said.

He said critics of the Arroyo government could be barking up the wrong tree in assailing Arroyo’s decision to impose martial law over Maguindanao province.

“Let’s give her the benefit of the doubt, give her that authority to do what is necessary because in the end it will be her fault if martial law turns out to be a wrong decision,” Fernando said. “She is taking the full responsibility of what happens here.”

He chided critics for using the martial law issue for political “grandstanding,” adding that some of them are after “the free media exposure.”

“Mahirap dito, kung lumala ang mga pangyayari sa Maguindanao at patuloy ang patayan, siya ang masisisi. Ngayon namang umaksyon ang pangulo upang arestuhin ang mga umano’y maysala at mapanumbalik ang katahimikan, marami ring pulitiko ang nagagalit,” he said.

Fernando also refused to respond to questions as to the mistakes of the Arroyo government that he would correct once he is elected vice president.